The Hollywood Reporter (Weekly)
Rambling Reporter
A Long-Delayed Memorial for Jean-Marc Vallée
Auteur Jean-Marc Vallée died on Christmas Day 2021, and, given the sudden nature of his death — from coronary artery disease — and a COVID-19 surge, his Hollywood family wasn’t able to gather to honor his life until a recent December day. In what was described as a “small, intimate and private” gathering, actors, writers, producers, crew and execs from Vallée’s projects like Dallas Buyers Club, Big Little Lies, Sharp Objects and Wild headed to Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica for an afternoon service that was supported by HBO and Searchlight and organized by his two sons, Émile and Alex. After eulogies, guests took a stroll to the Pacific Ocean during magic hour to toss roses into the sea, and everyone went home with a mixtape made by one of his sons, per a tradition started by Vallée, who used to hand them out to cast and crew on his productions. “Though it’s been a year, clearly those who were there were still grieving from this seismic loss,” producing partner Nathan Ross tells THR. “He and his work will be missed.”
If Christian Bale Gets a Producer Credit, He Wants to Earn It
Christian Bale is charting a new career path: producer. After receiving his first such credit, on David O. Russell’s Amsterdam in the fall, he snagged another one on his new film, The Pale Blue Eye. But Bale is not one to sneak the credit into his contracts as some vanity gift. “Like everybody, I’m stunned sometimes at the amount of producers you see in
the credits,” Bale explained to THR at the recent premiere of the Netflix film that he produced for filmmaker and frequent collaborator Scott Cooper. “I did it on Amsterdam and with this because I was there right from the inception. I helped to put the films together, and mostly as a creative producer, a right-hand man, sort of a consigliere,” Bale said. “I wouldn’t want to do it if it’s not appropriate and I’m not putting in the work.” — KIRSTEN CHUBA
Why a Murderous Robotic Doll Was Allison Williams’ Most ‘Complicated’ Co-Star
The title character of Blumhouse and Universal’s latest horror pic, M3gan — an evil, eerily lifelike animatronic doll — was “my most complicated co-star,” says Allison Williams, who plays M3gan’s inventor. To create the killer android, filmmakers used a combination of a real robot, special effects and young actress Amie Donald. “Sometimes it was also just a piece of tape in an ‘X’ shape,” adds Williams. “It was just a very singular experience. I doubt I’ll ever have another one like it.”